ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDIES OF MEDICINAL PLANTS OF MALAKAND DISTRICT

Abstract

This research project reveals the use of folk herbal remedies with their ethno-botanical studies used by the local peoples for curing diseases. Human beings are using herbal remedies for curing different disease from hundreds of years. Different plant parts are used for the extraction of local herbal medicines for the treatment of different diseases. In present investigation information regarding traditional remedies of the area was carried out after survey of villagers of particular area. Questionnaires were used for collection of information regarding plants remedies. A total of 40 diseases were reported, of which Asthma, diarrhea, foot and mouth disease and bones and joints problems were the most frequently reported diseases. A total of 46 plants were identified in the area for treatment of different diseases. These 46 plants belonging to 29 families, out of which 1 species of fungus, 2 species gymnosperm and 43 species of angiosperm were identified. Different plant parts were frequently used in the preparation of folk herbal remedies leaves were used in 32.14% remedies, Fruit used in 25% remedies, seed and peel each 8.92%, rhizome 5.35%, flower 7.14%, bulb, gum and whole plant each were used 3.57% and stem and root 1.78% used in different folk herbal remedies. People of that area frequently used these folk herbs by oral administration. Different information like local name, family, botanical source, methods for preparation and usage of different crude drugs and different parts used for preparation were investigated in present study. Present study also provide information regarding use of plant for the treatment of single (35 plants were used to cure 1 particular disease) or more than one disease (11 plants were used to treat more than one disease). The Remedies were prepared by boiling in water, decoctions and administered or applied topically included bulbs, leaves, rhizomes, seeds and fruits.